Air trap for pipe lines



Feb. 11 1930. D. LINDSEY 1,746,785

AIR TRAP FOR PIPE LINES Filed Oct. 28, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 AbnerD.Ldnse y B QM 405m Attorney Feb. 11, 1930. A. D. LINDSEY 1,746,785

AIR TRAP FOR PIPE LINES Filed 001;. .28; 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 InventorAlzher B. L z'nasey I B, QM 40/52.

Feb. 11, 1930. A. D. LINDSEY 1,746,785

AIR TRAP FOR PIPE LINES Filed Oct. 28, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Abner .D.Lz ndsey Attorney 35 ed for the Patented Feb. 11, 1930 PATENT OFFICEABNER D. LINDSEY,

OF RANGER, TEXAS AIR TRAP FOR PIPE LINES Application filed October 28,1927. Serial No. 229,516.

The present invention relates to pipe systems adapted for thetransporting or transferring of oil from the pwiducers stock tank tocentral storage or storage tank or re lincries,

such system usuallyconsisting of the provision of a main pipe line withnumerous branch pipe lines extending therefrom to the producers stocktank, a siphoning system of pumping being frequently employed. whereeverpossible. throughout the pipe line as a means for transporting the oil.In utilizing such siphoning system however it is necessary that anattendant he constantly present at the stock tank from which the oil isbeing pumped to prevent the entrance of air into the pipe line upon theen'iptying of the tank.

It is an object of my invention to provide an automatic air trapinterposed between the stock tank-and the pipe line whereby toautomatically close communication therebetween as soon as the oil in thestock tank has been lowered to a predetermined level.

By thus employing an automatic trap of this character the services ofthe attendant is dispensed with during the draining of the tank and thusconsiderable expense is saved in the operation of the pipe line systemwhich usually is arranged for connection with numerous stock tanksthroughout a wide area.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thischaracter of simple and practical construction, appreciably reliable inperformance, inexpensive to manufacture and install and otherwise welladaptpurposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the special construction andcombination of the various elements comprising the invention,

reference being had .to the accompanying drawings formlng a part hereof,wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a group of oil wells supplyingthe stock tanks and illustrating the relative position of the air trapinterposed between the trap and the pump line,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the trap, Figure 3 is a longitudinalvertical section therethrough,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along a line4-et of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along a line of Figure 3,and

Figure (3 is avcrtical sectional view hrongh the float.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and with particular reference toFigure 1 I have illustrated a group of oil wells employing the use ofpumping machinery indicated generally at for feeding the oil from thewell through the pipe (5 to an individual storage tank 1' with which isconnected a common discharge line 8. The connection 9 of each of thetanks with the discharge pipe communicates with the tanl; a slightdistance abo e the base thereof whereby to enable the sediment carriedby the oil into the tank to settle at the base of the tank for drainingtherefrom at suitable intervals and thus preventing the same from beingdischarged with the oil through the pipe 8. Cut otf valves 10 arearranged in the connection 9 communicating with each of the tanks.

The discharge pipe 8 communicates with a main oil pipe line 11 andbetween the pipe line 11 and the discharge pipe I interpose my automaticair trap indicated generally at 12.

The trap comprises a riser 13 arranged adjacent the connection with thedischarge pipe 8 and constituting a vertically disposed elbow having itsupper portion connected with a feed pipe 14 communicating with the floatchamber 15 within which a float 16 is arranged for operation upon theentrance of oil into the chamber. Beneath the float chamber 15 isarranged a valve chamber 17 of a substantially cylindrical constructiondisposed horizontally having openings 18 and 19 respectively at each-endthereof. The opening 18 communicates with the base of the riser and theopening 19 communicates with a reducer 20 leading toward the main pipeline 11 with a cut off valve 21 interposed .therebetween.

Within the valve chamber 17 is arranged a partition 22 disposedintermediate the ends thereof and closing communication between theopposite ends of the chamber.

A hollow valve box 23 extends through the partition 22, the opposite endof the box being open whereby to permit communication between theopposite ends of the valve chamber 17. At one end of the box is arrangeda valve gate 24 connected by a rod 25 attached to the float 16. Byreason of this connection, the gate 24 is mounted for vertical movementand is facilitated during its operation by a supporting arm 26 havingone end attached to the valve gate 24. The opposite end of the box 23 isprovided with a pressure operated valve 27 pivotally mounted at 28 tothe upper edge of the box for outward swinging movement with respect tothe adjacent end thereof.

The feed pipe 14 extending from the riser has an extension 29 attachedthereto forming a connection with the valve box 23 through an opening inthe casing 30 forming the valve chamber. The connection between the pipeextension 29 and the valve box 23 is preferably made through a duct 31extendmg vertically through the partition 22. The pipe extension 29 alsocarries a cut off valve 32 interposed therein. The base of the riser 13is provided with a bi-path 33 of a relatively smaller diameter than thepassageway extending throughout the riser.

In the operatlon of the device, the valve 21 interposed between the airtrap and the main pipe line is normally maintained in a closed positionand it will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 3 of the drawingsthat when the trap is empty the valve 24 and valve 27 will also beclosed. The valve 32 is also retained in a closed position when the trapis not in use. When it is desired to drain one of the storage tanks 7and convey the oil therefrom through the main pipe line 11 a pet cock'34 arranged in the upper portion of the float chamber 15 is open topermit the release of air therefrom and the valve 10 arranged adjacentthe tank is also opened permitting oil to flow therefrom to the trap 12by gravity, which as will be seen from Figure 1 of the drawings isdisposed at a lower horizontal level than the tank. The oil entering theriser 13 will pass over the elbow through the feed pipe 14 and into thefloat chamber 15 thus operating to raise the float and force the airfrom the trap out of the chamber through the pet cock 34. The cut offvalve 32 disposed in the pipe extension 29 is also opened which therebywill allow the oil to also enter the valve box 23 back of the valve 24and prevent the pressure of the oil upon entering the float chamber frominterfering with the raising of the float and the opening of the valve24 attached thereto. As the float 16 is raised, the valve gate 24 willbe opened opening communication to the end 19 thereof adjacent the cutoff valve 21. As soon as the trap has been filled with oil and the samebegins to overflow through the pet cock 24, the same is then closed andupon opening the valve 21 the oil will then be permitted to flow intothe main pipe line 11.

As soon as the tank 7 has been drained, the

oil will stop flowing over the elbow of the riser 18 and into the floatchamber thereby permitting the float 16 to lower which results in aclosing of a gate valve 24 and preventing any air from entering the mainpipe line. The valve 27 will also close as soon as the pressure of theflowing oil ceases so as to prevent air entering the chamber 19 throughthe pipe 29. The attendant may then close the cut ofl valves 21 and 32at his leisure until it is desired to transport the oil from another ofthe storage tanks to the refinery, these so valves being closed beforethe discharge valve of the storage tank is opened.

The use of the pipe extension 29 is not always necessary and is providedonly in cases where the pressure in the tanks 7 is so 55 great as tointerfere with ,the raising of the float at the initial entrance of theoil to the float chamber. The bi-path 33 arranged in the base of theriser enables a limited quanchamber 17 to maintain a constant supply ofoil in the chamber even when the level thereof has reached a point belowthe upper portion of the riser.

. tity of oil to be constantly fed into the trap It is obvious that theinvention is susceptible of various changes and modifications, withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing anyof its advantages, and I accordingly claim all such forms of the deviceto which I am entitled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In an air trap of the class described, a valve casinginterposed in anoil feed line,

open at each end and constituting intake and 1 discharge ends therefor,a riser attached with the intake end of the casing, a partition arrangedintermediate the ends of the casing forming a closure between the endsthereof, a

valve box extending through the partition forming a communicationbetween the ends of the casing, a valve arranged at each end of the boxafloat operatively connected with one of t e valves and a feed pipeextending from the riser to the float.

2. In an air trap of the class described, a casing constituting a valvechamber open at each end, a partition arranged intermediate the endsthereof closing communication between the ends of the casing, a valvebox ex- 1 tending through the partition, said valve box being of atubular formation, valves arranged at each end thereof, a float chamberdisposed above the casing, a float arranged therein operativelyconnected with one of said valves and a riser connected with one end ofthe casing, said riser also having a connection with said float chamber.

3. In an air trap of the class described comprising a cylindrical casinginterposed in a pipe line atthe discharge end of a stock tank, saidcasin; being horizontally disposed and open at each end constitutingintake and discharge ends of the easin a partition arranged Within thecasing adapted to normally close communication therebetween, a tubularvalve box extending through the partition, valves arranged at each endthereof, a float chamber mounted above the casing, a float arrangedtherein and oppositely connected with one of said valves, :1 riserconnected to the intake end of the casing, said riser having avertically extending elbow formed therein, a feed pipe connectml withthe upper portion of the elbow (omzmmieating with the float chamber,said feed pipe having an extension communicating with the valve box anda bipath formed in the base of the ,riser forming a directCOIDHlHilltfiltlOD between the tank and the intake end of the casing.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature.

ABNER D. LINDSEY.

